New survey finds Susilo satisfactory

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Despite criticism of the performance of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his administration, 57 percent of Indonesians are satisfied with his performance, according to a recent national survey.

Conducted by the U.S.-based International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) from Feb. 7 to Feb. 11, the survey found that the reasons for the satisfaction were generally noneconomic, including the administration's efforts to stamp out corruption, collusion and nepotism (44 percent).

Other reasons cited by respondents for their satisfaction were improved security (21 percent), better law enforcement (12 percent), handling of natural disasters (10 percent) and attention to people's needs (9 percent).

The highest level of satisfaction was recorded in Kalimantan (70 percent), followed by 67 percent in Aceh, Maluku and Papua, and 66 percent in Sulawesi.

Thirty-five percent of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with Susilo, based mainly on economic concerns such as unemployment, higher fuel prices and the cost of education.

These responses were line with IFES surveys conducted during the 2004 elections, which found that voters responded most favorably to Susilo's leadership and personality, as well as his stated commitment to fighting corruption.

Respondents in this newest survey gave Susilo high marks for his battle against corruption.

Susilo's decision to require all Cabinet members and other top government officials to sign anti-graft pledges was considered by nearly nine out of 10 respondents as having some effect on official corruption.

Sixty-seven percent of the 2,020 total respondents in 33 provinces throughout the country also believe Susilo's administration will be successful in reducing corruption in the country.

The specific areas of action by Susilo's administration that respondents are satisfied or very satisfied with include fighting corruption (73 percent) and terrorism (68 percent), improving security (78 percent) and health care (70 percent), improving the quality of education (59 percent) and reducing environmental degradation (61 percent).

Nearly three-quarters of respondents, however, are unsatisfied with government efforts to create more jobs and control inflation, while more than six out of 10 respondents are dissatisfied with the government's economic development policies.

Regarding the government's performance after the Dec. 26 tsunami, a vast majority of respondents (83 percent) gave the government good marks for handling the rescue and recovery process in Aceh.

Those areas respondents want the government to focus on include health care (67 percent), economic relief (62 percent), education (54 percent), housing (45 percent), public facilities and infrastructures (18 percent), security (15 percent) and aid for refugees (14 percent).

Sixty percent of Indonesians also think that domestic non- governmental organizations have been very or somewhat effective in relief efforts in Aceh.